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Vegetable Partial Shade OK Frequent water

Watercress

Written by the GrowByCity Editorial Team · Updated April 2026
2 min read

Peppery aquatic green. Hardy enough to withstand light frosts down to 0°C, watercress performs best when daytime temperatures stay between 8°C and 16°C. Give it partial shade, though it appreciates some direct light and frequent watering — it is a thirsty plant that dislikes dry soil, and expect to harvest in roughly 30-50 days. Widely grown in home gardens around the world, it adapts to a range of soil types and growing conditions.

Harvest 30-50 days
Temp Range 0°C — 22°C
Frost Tolerant ❄

Quick Answer: How to Grow Watercress

Watercress takes 30-50 days to harvest. It grows best in 8–16°C with partial shade ok and frequent watering. Watercress is frost tolerant and can handle temperatures down to 0°C. It can be grown in 350 cities worldwide.

Find the best time to plant Watercress in your city →

Growing Requirements

☀️
Sun
Partial Shade OK
💧
Water
Frequent
❄️
Frost
Tolerant
📅
Harvest
30-50 days

Temperature Range

8-16°C
-10°C 45°C
Optimal: 8–16°C Tolerates: 0–22°C
Tropical suitable: No
Cities growing: 350 of 350

Growing Tips

💡

Expert Tips

Keep soil constantly wet or grow in water. Excellent in containers with saucers of water. Can be planted 2-3 weeks before the last expected frost, giving it a head start on the growing season. Consistent moisture is critical. Mulch with straw or compost to retain soil moisture and keep roots cool during hot weather.

Quick Facts

  • Grows in 350 of 350 cities
  • Available in 7 regions worldwide
  • Temperature range: 0°C to 22°C
  • Optimal growing: 8°C to 16°C
  • Harvest in 30-50 days

Did You Know?

  • 🌱 Watercress is frost-tolerant, meaning it can survive light frosts and even thrive in cooler temperatures.

Step-by-Step Growing Guide

Watercress is a semi-aquatic perennial that grows naturally in cool, clean running streams. In gardens, it can be grown in consistently waterlogged soil, in containers set in trays of water, or in repurposed water troughs with a slow trickle of fresh water. It struggles above 22°C and bolts quickly in warm weather — grow it as a spring and fall crop in most climates. Plant in partial shade in midsummer locations. Sow seed in a seed tray kept sitting in a tray of water, or propagate from store-bought bunches by rooting stems in a glass of water on a windowsill — roots appear within a week. Transplant into moist, mineral-rich soil or shallow water-filled containers. pH 6.0–7.5 is ideal. Watercress is a heavy feeder in water; apply a diluted liquid fertilizer weekly if growing in standing water. Keep water fresh and moving if possible — stagnant water promotes disease.

Common Pests & Problems

Watercress mosaic virus produces yellow mottling and distorted leaves — transmitted by aphids (particularly the watercress aphid, Nasonovia ribisnigri); exclude with fine insect mesh and use reflective mulch. Peronospora parasitica (downy mildew) appears as yellow-brown patches with grayish sporulation beneath, especially in still, humid conditions; improve airflow and change water regularly. Slugs are problematic in the consistently moist environment watercress demands — use iron phosphate pellets (safe around water) or copper tape around containers. Fleas beetles attack young seedlings on drier sites; protect with row cover early on.

Harvest & Storage

Harvest watercress by cutting stems 5–8cm above the root crown once plants are 15cm tall — they regrow rapidly, allowing multiple cuts. For the mildest flavor, harvest before flowering; once flowers open, the flavor turns aggressively peppery and bitter. Harvest in the morning when turgid. Store immediately in a glass of water in the refrigerator like a bouquet of flowers, covered loosely with a plastic bag — it keeps up to 5 days this way. Watercress does not freeze well.

Popular Varieties

"Aqua" is the standard commercial watercress variety with upright growth, large leaves, and strong peppery flavor — reliable and productive. "Nasturtium officinale" is the true wild watercress — the flavor benchmark with intense, complex heat and mineral notes. Cultivated strains are essentially selections of this species. "One Leaf" is a broad-leaf selection popular in the UK with somewhat milder flavor and more cold tolerance. "Wrinkled Crinkled Crumpled Cress" (Lepidium sativum) is technically garden cress rather than true watercress but often sold alongside it — grows in soil without standing water and has a similar peppery bite.

Where to Grow Watercress

Watercress can be grown in 350 cities across 7 regions worldwide

🌍

Europe

80 cities
🌏

Asia

79 cities
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North America

78 cities
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Africa

39 cities
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South America

39 cities
🌊

Oceania

19 cities
🕌

Middle East

16 cities

🌍 Europe (80 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Aarhus, DK medium
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Amsterdam, NL medium
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Ankara, TR medium
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Antalya, TR medium
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Athens, GR medium
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Barcelona, ES medium
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Bari, IT medium
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Belgrade, RS medium
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Bergen, NO medium
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Berlin, DE medium
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Bilbao, ES medium
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Bologna, IT medium
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Bordeaux, FR medium
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Bratislava, SK medium
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Brussels, BE medium
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Bucharest, RO medium
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Budapest, HU medium
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Catania, IT medium
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Cologne, DE medium
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Copenhagen, DK medium
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Corfu, GR medium
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Cork, IE medium
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Dublin, IE medium
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Dubrovnik, HR medium
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Edinburgh, GB medium
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Florence, IT medium
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Frankfurt, DE medium
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Gdansk, PL medium
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Genoa, IT medium
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Glasgow, GB medium
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Gothenburg, SE medium
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Hamburg, DE medium
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Helsinki, FI medium
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Heraklion, GR medium
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Istanbul, TR medium
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Izmir, TR medium
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Krakow, PL medium
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Kyiv, UA medium
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Limassol, CY medium
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Lisbon, PT medium
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Ljubljana, SI medium
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London, GB medium
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Lyon, FR medium
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Madrid, ES medium
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Malaga, ES medium
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Marseille, FR medium
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Milan, IT medium
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Munich, DE medium
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Naples, IT medium
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Nice, FR medium
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Nicosia, CY medium
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Oslo, NO medium
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Palermo, IT medium
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Paris, FR medium
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Porto, PT medium
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Poznan, PL medium
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Prague, CZ medium
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Reykjavik, IS medium
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Riga, LV medium
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Rome, IT medium
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Seville, ES medium
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Sofia, BG medium
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Split, HR medium
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Stockholm, SE medium
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Strasbourg, FR medium
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Stuttgart, DE medium
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Tallinn, EE medium
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Thessaloniki, GR medium
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Tirana, AL medium
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Toulouse, FR medium
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Turin, IT medium
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Turku, FI medium
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Valencia, ES medium
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Valletta, MT medium
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Verona, IT medium
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Vienna, AT medium
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Vilnius, LT medium
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Warsaw, PL medium
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Zagreb, HR medium
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Zurich, CH medium
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🌏 Asia (79 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Ahmedabad, IN medium
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Almaty, KZ medium
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Bali, ID medium
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Bandung, ID medium
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Bangalore, IN medium
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Bangkok, TH medium
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Beijing, CN medium
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Busan, KR medium
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Cebu, PH medium
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Chandigarh, IN medium
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Chengdu, CN medium
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Chennai, IN medium
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Chiang Mai, TH medium
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Chittagong, BD medium
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Chongqing, CN medium
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Coimbatore, IN medium
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Colombo, LK medium
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Da Nang, VN medium
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Dalian, CN medium
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Davao, PH medium
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Delhi, IN medium
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Dhaka, BD medium
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Dharan, NP medium
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Fukuoka, JP medium
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Galle, LK medium
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Guangzhou, CN medium
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Hangzhou, CN medium
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Hanoi, VN medium
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Harbin, CN medium
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Ho Chi Minh City, VN medium
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Hong Kong, HK medium
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Hyderabad, IN medium
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Incheon, KR medium
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Indore, IN medium
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Islamabad, PK medium
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Jaipur, IN medium
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Jakarta, ID medium
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Jeju, KR medium
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Johor Bahru, MY medium
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Karachi, PK medium
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Kathmandu, NP medium
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Kochi, IN medium
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Kolkata, IN medium
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Kuala Lumpur, MY medium
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Kunming, CN medium
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Kyoto, JP medium
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Lahore, PK medium
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Lucknow, IN medium
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Manila, PH medium
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Mumbai, IN medium
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Nagoya, JP medium
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Nanjing, CN medium
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Nha Trang, VN medium
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Okinawa, JP medium
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Osaka, JP medium
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Pattaya, TH medium
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Penang, MY medium
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Phnom Penh, KH medium
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Pune, IN medium
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Sapporo, JP medium
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Seoul, KR medium
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Shanghai, CN medium
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Shenzhen, CN medium
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Siem Reap, KH medium
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Singapore, SG medium
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Surabaya, ID medium
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Surat, IN medium
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Taipei, TW medium
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Tashkent, UZ medium
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Tbilisi, GE medium
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Tokyo, JP medium
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Ulaanbaatar, MN medium
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Varanasi, IN medium
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Vientiane, LA medium
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Visakhapatnam, IN medium
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Wuhan, CN medium
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Xi'an, CN medium
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Xiamen, CN medium
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Yangon, MM medium
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🌎 North America (78 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Albuquerque, US medium
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Anchorage, US medium
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Atlanta, US medium
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Austin, US medium
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Baltimore, US medium
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Baton Rouge, US medium
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Boise, US medium
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Boston, US medium
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Bridgetown, BB medium
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Buffalo, US medium
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Calgary, CA medium
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Cancun, MX medium
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Charleston, US medium
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Charlotte, US medium
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Chattanooga, US medium
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Chicago, US medium
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Denver, US medium
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Des Moines, US medium
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Detroit, US medium
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Edmonton, CA medium
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El Paso, US medium
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Fargo, US medium
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Fresno, US medium
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Guadalajara, MX medium
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Halifax, CA medium
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Hartford, US medium
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Havana, CU medium
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Honolulu, US medium
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Houston, US medium
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Jacksonville, US medium
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Kansas City, US medium
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Kingston, JM medium
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Knoxville, US medium
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Las Vegas, US medium
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Little Rock, US medium
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Los Angeles, US medium
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Louisville, US medium
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Lubbock, US medium
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Madison, US medium
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Memphis, US medium
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Mexico City, MX medium
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Miami, US medium
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Milwaukee, US medium
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Minneapolis, US medium
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Monterrey, MX medium
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Montreal, CA medium
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Nashville, US medium
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New Orleans, US medium
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New York, US medium
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Oaxaca, MX medium
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Oklahoma City, US medium
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Omaha, US medium
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Ottawa, CA medium
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Panama City, PA medium
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Phoenix, US medium
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Pittsburgh, US medium
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Portland, US medium
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Puebla, MX medium
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Quebec City, CA medium
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Raleigh, US medium
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Richmond, US medium
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Sacramento, US medium
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Salt Lake City, US medium
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San Diego, US medium
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San Francisco, US medium
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San Jose, CR medium
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Santo Domingo, DO medium
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Saskatoon, CA medium
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Savannah, US medium
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Seattle, US medium
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Spokane, US medium
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St. Louis, US medium
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Tampa, US medium
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Toronto, CA medium
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Tucson, US medium
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Vancouver, CA medium
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Victoria, CA medium
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Winnipeg, CA medium
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🌍 Africa (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abidjan, CI medium
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Accra, GH medium
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Addis Ababa, ET medium
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Algiers, DZ medium
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Antananarivo, MG medium
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Arusha, TZ medium
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Bamako, ML medium
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Bloemfontein, ZA medium
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Cairo, EG medium
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Cape Town, ZA medium
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Casablanca, MA medium
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Dakar, SN medium
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Dar es Salaam, TZ medium
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Douala, CM medium
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Durban, ZA medium
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Entebbe, UG medium
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Fez, MA medium
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Freetown, SL medium
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Harare, ZW medium
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Johannesburg, ZA medium
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Kampala, UG medium
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Kigali, RW medium
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Kinshasa, CD medium
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Lagos, NG medium
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Libreville, GA medium
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Lilongwe, MW medium
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Lome, TG medium
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Luanda, AO medium
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Lusaka, ZM medium
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Maputo, MZ medium
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Marrakech, MA medium
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Mombasa, KE medium
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Nairobi, KE medium
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Ouagadougou, BF medium
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Port Louis, MU medium
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Pretoria, ZA medium
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Tunis, TN medium
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Windhoek, NA medium
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Zanzibar, TZ medium
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🌎 South America (39 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Arequipa, PE medium
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Asuncion, PY medium
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Barranquilla, CO medium
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Belem, BR medium
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Bogota, CO medium
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Brasilia, BR medium
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Buenos Aires, AR medium
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Cali, CO medium
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Campinas, BR medium
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Caracas, VE medium
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Cartagena, CO medium
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Concepcion, CL medium
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Cordoba, AR medium
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Curitiba, BR medium
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Cusco, PE medium
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Fortaleza, BR medium
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Georgetown, GY medium
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Goiania, BR medium
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Guayaquil, EC medium
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La Paz, BO medium
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Lima, PE medium
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Manaus, BR medium
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Medellin, CO medium
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Mendoza, AR medium
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Montevideo, UY medium
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Paramaribo, SR medium
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Port of Spain, TT medium
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Porto Alegre, BR medium
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Quito, EC medium
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Recife, BR medium
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Rio de Janeiro, BR medium
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Rosario, AR medium
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Salvador, BR medium
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Santa Cruz, BO medium
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Santiago, CL medium
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Sao Paulo, BR medium
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Sucre, BO medium
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Trujillo, PE medium
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Valparaiso, CL medium
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🌊 Oceania (19 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Adelaide, AU medium
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Alice Springs, AU medium
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Auckland, NZ medium
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Brisbane, AU medium
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Cairns, AU medium
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Canberra, AU medium
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Christchurch, NZ medium
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Darwin, AU medium
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Dunedin, NZ medium
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Gold Coast, AU medium
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Hamilton, NZ medium
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Hobart, AU medium
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Melbourne, AU medium
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Noumea, NC medium
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Perth, AU medium
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Suva, FJ medium
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Sydney, AU medium
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Townsville, AU medium
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Wellington, NZ medium
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🕌 Middle East (16 cities)

City Level JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Abu Dhabi, AE medium
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Amman, JO medium
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Baghdad, IQ medium
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Beirut, LB medium
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Doha, QA medium
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Dubai, AE medium
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Erbil, IQ medium
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Jeddah, SA medium
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Kuwait City, KW medium
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Manama, BH medium
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Muscat, OM medium
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Riyadh, SA medium
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Sana'a, YE medium
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Tabriz, IR medium
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Tehran, IR medium
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Tel Aviv, IL medium
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✓

When should I plant watercress in my city?

The best time to plant watercress depends on your local climate zone. It thrives in temperatures between 8°C and 16°C. Since watercress is frost tolerant, you can plant it before the last frost date. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact dates.

Can I grow watercress in winter?

Yes, watercress is frost tolerant and can handle temperatures down to 0°C. In many climates, it can be grown through winter with some protection.

Get Watercress Seeds & Plants

Ready to start growing? Find Watercress seeds and starter plants online.

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5-18°C
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Kale

Vegetable · Full Sun to Partial Shade

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🌿

Mint

Herb · Partial Shade OK

12-22°C
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Pea

Vegetable · Full Sun

8-18°C

Frequently Asked Questions about Watercress

When should I plant watercress?

The best time to plant watercress depends on your local climate. Watercress grows best in temperatures between 8°C and 16°C (can tolerate 0°C to 22°C). Watercress is frost tolerant, so it can be planted earlier in spring or later in fall. Check your city's planting calendar on GrowByCity for exact planting months.

Can watercress grow in tropical climates?

Watercress is not well-suited for tropical climates. It prefers cooler conditions with temperatures between 8°C and 16°C. In tropical areas, it may bolt, fail to fruit, or suffer from heat stress. Consider growing it in cooler seasons or at higher elevations.

How long does watercress take to grow?

Watercress typically takes 30-50 days from planting to harvest. It requires partial shade ok and frequent watering. Keep soil constantly wet or grow in water. Excellent in containers with saucers of water. Can be planted 2-3 weeks before the last expected frost, giving it a head start on the growing season. Consistent moisture is critical. Mulch with straw or compost to retain soil moisture and keep roots cool during hot weather.

Find the Best Time to Plant Watercress

See the planting calendar for Watercress in these popular cities:

London, GBMumbai, INNew York, USParis, FRSingapore, SGSydney, AUTokyo, JPToronto, CA

Last updated: March 2026 · Climate data from NOAA, FAO, USDA

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